Kosovo urges return of stolen archaeological, ethnological collection

As stated in the MKRS report, the request of the Kosovo National Museum through a letter of escort also gave full support to Foreign Affairs Minister Donika Grovalla-Schwarz, and Minister of Culture, Youth and Spor, Hajrula Ceku.

Both letters argue the obligation of Serbia and relevant institutions to return this collection based on signed agreements envisioning temporary exposure to Belgrade and its return, the U convention. NESCO for the return of cultural property to the country of origin, and the Ahtisaari package forcing Serbia to return to Kosovo the collection in question.

Read below the complete letter from the Kosovo National Museum and the accompanying letter from the ministers of the Government of Kosovo in Albanian:

Your Honor,

I have the pleasure of addressing you with this letter aimed at fixing an important issue that has long remained open among our institutions. On behalf of the National Museum of Kosovo, I want to remind you of the unfulfilled obligation to return artefacts from Kosovo's archaeological and ethnogaic collection. Although taken by Kosovo in the late 1990s of last century with a view to temporary exposure to Serbia and forced to return, our artifacts continue to be held unjustly at your respective museums.

I would like to remind you of the triple obligation in relation to these artifacts:

1. Agreements signed between our institutions envision the carrying of artifacts with the aim of temporary exposure and their return to the country of origin and the National Museum of Kosovo, whose property are,

2. U Convention NESCO for the Prevention and Prevention Tools of Import, Export and Illegal Transfer of Cultural Property Property (1970) tasks the ratified states to work to ensure that cultural wealth returns to the country of origin (Serbia is ratification of the Convention),

3. Annexis V, Article 6, paragraph 1 of the Ahtisaari Plan, firmly obliges Serbia to return to Kosovo the archaeological and ethnographic collection temporarily taken for exploratory purposes in Belgrade.

The total number of artifacts of Kosovo's archaeological and ethnographic collections that are not necessarily held in Serbia is 1247. They must return to their country of origin as soon as possible. To accomplish this obligation, I propose the establishment of a working group consisting of representatives (from one official) of four museums: The National Museum of Kosovo, the Ethnographic Museum of Kosovo, the National Museum in Belgrade and the Ethnographic Museum in Belgrade, as well as international museum professionals. The task of this working group would be to draft the plan and oversee the process of returning all artifacts to Kosovo.

Thank you for your cooperation in advance. I'll be waiting for your answer and the opportunity to set the first meeting between our institutions.

With respect,

Ace Leci

Kosovo National Museum

)

Your Honor,

On behalf of the government of the Republic of Kosovo, we offer our full support for Mr. Ayjet Leci, director of the National Museum of Kosovo, for the return of archaeological and ethnographic collections from Serbia to Kosovo. Kosovo's cultural wealth acquired in the late 1990s for exhibitive, limited time, and with the obligation to return it continues to be kept at the museums of Serbia. First as obligation from the agreement between museums, then as obligation from the 1970s and U. NESCO for the return of cultural property to the country of origin and the Ahtisaari Plan, Serbia must return Kosovo's artifacts, ending a process of only prolonged existence.

Institutions of the Republic of Kosovo will provide all necessary support to the Kosovo National Museum in meeting that goal. We welcome their proposal to establish a joint working group between the Kosovo and Serbian museums, with a professional international presence to draft a plan and oversee the process of return of artefacts to Kosovo. We seek institutional responsibility from respective museums in Belgrade, as well as political responsibility from the government in Belgrade to fulfill an international obligation. Once we vow not to stop acting until the return of all the pieces of the relevant collection to our country.

Thank you for your cooperation.

With respect,

Donika Gervalla-Schwarz

Z. Prime Minister

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora

Hajrlla Ceku

Minister of Culture, Youth, and Sports